Editorial: Post public contracts but make the state pay

Published Friday, March 21, 2008

It is fitting during Sunshine Week a week of advocacy nationwide on behalf of open government that a bill to put certain local government contracts on the World Wide Web gained support in the Florida Senate.

The original bill by Sen. Ronda Storms, a Brandon Republican, is making its second attempt at passage. She wants the public to have first-hand knowledge of local government contracts.

We do, too.

Wednesday, a committee substitute of S392 gained unanimous approval from the nine-member Senate Community Affairs Committee.

The companion bill in the House of Representatives is H181 filed by Rep. Gayle Harrell, a Port St. Lucie Republican.

The legislation is still a ways away from becoming law, but Wednesday's action is an important step on the journey through the Legislature and eventually to Gov. Charlie Crist's desk.

We support the proposed legislation. It's hard not to be for something that opens up access to government records, especially from the comfort of your home. "Citizens want to know their taxes are being spent wisely," said Adria Harper, director of the First Amendment Foundation.

They can check them out 24/7 under this proposal.

The proposal, if it becomes law effective July 1, would require local governments with Web sites to post information on their contracts of $5,000 or more with private corporations or individual persons. The Web sites must be available without charge to anyone with Internet access.

Those without Web sites would have to maintain records in a reasonably accessible office.

The state's Department of Financial Services would be required to develop a uniform format for local governments to use and a portal linking the DFS to all the government Web sites.

While we support more access and transparency, we cannot ignore the other side of the room asking, "Who is paying for it?"

We say Crist and the Legislature.

If they are truly committed to citizen access to government, the cost of posting contracts and maintaining those sites on the World Wide Web is their responsibility. Local governments can't afford any more unfunded mandates.